A friend and I had a lovely lunch at a local eatery. I had tilapia and she, thinking she should be eating more fish, ordered tilapia also. It came with a mango salsa and four shrimp. Delicious.
Dropping her off after a couple of shopping stops, we both heard a noise coming from the engine of the car. It sounded like 'thwik, thwick, thwick' a soft, swift sound. She said I should let my husband look at the engine. This sent us into uproarious gales of laughter, but I guess you would have to know my husband to join this inside joke.
I was leaving the next day at noon for a two-day conference in Indianapolis, about three hours away. I couldn't risk breaking down on the highway....not much but cornfields between us and Indy.
Jim and I drove right to the dealer. A service representative, let's just call him B, came right out to talk to us. The noise was obvious. It was probably a water pump that would need to be replaced. B said 1) he had no mechanics available right then to look at it, and 2) the dealer had no loaners available and 3) it would take a day or two to get the car in for service.
Jim must have given B his 'grumble, grumble' look because B went into the office and returned with a woman who diagnosed the water pump problem. Jim told her, B standing by, that I needed to leave for Indy the next noon. She said 1) the dealer had loaners, and 2) perhaps they could get it done in time so I could drive my own car.
The loaner auto, and yes I know I should be grateful that they gave me one, was a 2014 model. A low-end model. One that used the key to open the doors. Cloth seats. And a half tank of gas. Like my dad used to say "A piece of junk."
Leaving our car we filled up the loaner with a full tank of gas to get me to Indy.
I searched the Internet for the cost of replacing a water pump. I plugged on our make/model/year of auto and came up with the average cost for this service throughout the USA. Costs ranged from $280-$400. I figured ours would be on the higher end.
The next day, at 11:45 AM, the dealer called....you guessed it, the car was ready. So B told us three big fibbers. We won't waste our time talking to B again if we ever return to the dealer.
Apparently one can't replace a water pump without finding other 'little' things that need attention. Our cost for the water pump was $700. With the 'little' things that needed attention our total bill was over $900. And yes, they did call and give us this estimate but really, they had us over a barrel.
Or as my dad would say, "They saw you coming." They also got our half tank of gas.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
My World Cup Life
For the past two weeks, and apparently for the next week or so, I have been, and will be, watching soccer.
It seems that even more than the Olympics, the world is focused on this sport competition.
For the last two weeks, I have been sitting in front of the TV with my Group List in front of me. In the sudden-death round, which is taking place as I type, will be over in two hours when the USA either goes ahead or comes home.
The agenda for my day looks like this: 6:30 AM, up and walking at the river, sitting with coffee on the porch reading/studying, 11 AM, game one which is over about 1 PM. Judge Judy from 1-2 PM. An hour after of studying, reading, or free time. At 2 PM game two for the day, which is over around 4 PM unless there is overtime and/or penalty kicks.
This has been my life for the past week.
Before that, while the group games were still going on, there were three games a day and my schedule accommodated all three, with less time for things like laundry, returning phone calls, grocery shopping.
After today, the semi-finals schedule will require amendment of my own schedule.
One of the fascinations of world cup soccer for me is the global interest in this sport. I love watching so many countries sending teams to this international competition. I can't think of another event that brings so many people together. From the Pope to those who watch through Harrods windows in London, soccer takes center stage. I like the connection I feel with those around the world.
A deeper meaning or moral should now appear on this blog, some deep ideal that World Cup Soccer has taught me, but no, there's nothing. I just like soccer.
And that's what I think about it. Now USA, on to Belgium.
It seems that even more than the Olympics, the world is focused on this sport competition.
For the last two weeks, I have been sitting in front of the TV with my Group List in front of me. In the sudden-death round, which is taking place as I type, will be over in two hours when the USA either goes ahead or comes home.
The agenda for my day looks like this: 6:30 AM, up and walking at the river, sitting with coffee on the porch reading/studying, 11 AM, game one which is over about 1 PM. Judge Judy from 1-2 PM. An hour after of studying, reading, or free time. At 2 PM game two for the day, which is over around 4 PM unless there is overtime and/or penalty kicks.
This has been my life for the past week.
Before that, while the group games were still going on, there were three games a day and my schedule accommodated all three, with less time for things like laundry, returning phone calls, grocery shopping.
After today, the semi-finals schedule will require amendment of my own schedule.
One of the fascinations of world cup soccer for me is the global interest in this sport. I love watching so many countries sending teams to this international competition. I can't think of another event that brings so many people together. From the Pope to those who watch through Harrods windows in London, soccer takes center stage. I like the connection I feel with those around the world.
A deeper meaning or moral should now appear on this blog, some deep ideal that World Cup Soccer has taught me, but no, there's nothing. I just like soccer.
And that's what I think about it. Now USA, on to Belgium.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Botanical Gardens and a Life Lesson
Last week I found myself in St. Louis at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Acres after acres of manicured lawns and carefully sculpted beds of flowering plants and trees. Each carefully, tediously labeled. The garden's mission is to preserve, research, and showcase growing things.
Chihuly glass sculptures greet the visitor.
Lovely flowers and flowering trees line the meandering pathways throughout the park. Huge Koi slurp around the surface of their pond hoping that the visitor walking toward their habitat has picked up fish food at the visitor center.
A Japanese garden provides a peaceful place to meditate while listening to the rippling sound of water trickling over stones.
Two hours of meandering, stopping to read labels, sitting and enjoying the breeze through the trees is enough to shed stress and slow hurry. A modern-day Eden, a place created for the enjoyment of the senses.
And then....
Yes, in the midst of unique, labeled, groomed trees and flowers appeared dandelions, the bane of the modern gardener, the black eye on the surface of a lawn, the F grade for the horticulturist. In the midst of carefully crafted gardens a weed insists that it will thrive.
And it got me to thinking. I had spent a few hours enjoying a perfectly groomed place only to find out a dirty little secret growing amidst the beauty. Kind of like a life, I thought, perhaps my own life. Perhaps like yours.
We carefully groom our lives to look real good to the casual observer. But if one looks closer, the ugly can be seen.
Sometimes we don't see the dandelions because there is so much beauty in our life and it kind of covers up those little patches of not-so-pretty thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. For the most part, say 90%, we look pretty good. Sadly, like the one bad apple in a barrel of apples, one dandelion in a life will insidiously put down roots that are almost impossible to eradicate. The one pretty little yellow blossom turns to a fluffy sphere that holds a thousand other dandelion possibilities.
Just my meandering thoughts while meadering.
And that's what I think about it.
Chihuly glass sculptures greet the visitor.
Lovely flowers and flowering trees line the meandering pathways throughout the park. Huge Koi slurp around the surface of their pond hoping that the visitor walking toward their habitat has picked up fish food at the visitor center.
A Japanese garden provides a peaceful place to meditate while listening to the rippling sound of water trickling over stones.
Two hours of meandering, stopping to read labels, sitting and enjoying the breeze through the trees is enough to shed stress and slow hurry. A modern-day Eden, a place created for the enjoyment of the senses.
And then....
Yes, in the midst of unique, labeled, groomed trees and flowers appeared dandelions, the bane of the modern gardener, the black eye on the surface of a lawn, the F grade for the horticulturist. In the midst of carefully crafted gardens a weed insists that it will thrive.
And it got me to thinking. I had spent a few hours enjoying a perfectly groomed place only to find out a dirty little secret growing amidst the beauty. Kind of like a life, I thought, perhaps my own life. Perhaps like yours.
We carefully groom our lives to look real good to the casual observer. But if one looks closer, the ugly can be seen.
Sometimes we don't see the dandelions because there is so much beauty in our life and it kind of covers up those little patches of not-so-pretty thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. For the most part, say 90%, we look pretty good. Sadly, like the one bad apple in a barrel of apples, one dandelion in a life will insidiously put down roots that are almost impossible to eradicate. The one pretty little yellow blossom turns to a fluffy sphere that holds a thousand other dandelion possibilities.
Just my meandering thoughts while meadering.
And that's what I think about it.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Noah - My Take
Noah the movie was released over the weekend. Today, timing our outing to coincide with students being back in school after Spring Break, my husband and I went out for breakfast and then to the morning showing of this 'epic Hollywood blockbuster' (as it was reported).
Being familiar with the biblical account of the Noah saga and also being suspicious of anything out of Hollywood, I arrived at the cinema with as much of an open mind as I could muster.
The story of Noah, in its original, comes from the Bible. It's pretty straightforward, God (the Creator) with human emotions rues the day He created humans and decides to do away with the whole bunch because of the depth of their depravity. That depravity was well-represented in the film. I liked that the film makers showed the worst of humankind. It's what I'd thought all along (In modern day, only Wolf of Wall Street comes close to the evil that had pervaded the earth).
A subtitle of the film might be "Transformers Moonlight for God." I kind of liked the transformers. Here's why. Reading the biblical account it does take a stretch of imagination that Noah could build the ark by himself with only three young men to help...and maybe a handy woman or two. It made more sense to me to have these strong, guardian creatures around to help and protect Noah than it might have to have flurries of angels with fluttery wings and gossamer garments helping him. So that did not bother me. Poetic license.
It has long been known that God chose Noah because of all the people on earth Noah was the best. Not a sterling recommendation, and the movie shows the evil that lurked in Noah and everyone of his family. And in the film Noah delineates the weaknesses of each family member including himself. I think it's probably not a good idea to think well of myself by comparing myself to those around me. There is a higher standard. I appreciated the script writers bringing this out.
About three-quarters of the way through the film, I got antsy. I was ready for it to be over. It started to drag. I was unconcerned about how it would end. I wanted lunch. The script went so far off the main story, down rabbit trails and cow paths, that I lost interest.
The twins being born on the Ark, Jubal-Cain stowing away, an animal being slaughtered (probably the unicorn) - all that was extra-biblical. And tears, oh my goodness, those two Ark women could cry! And sob! Anyone who knows the events of scripture will begin to see the movie at this point as pure entertainment. Hollywood at its depraved best with one huge redemptive scene that gives the impression that, just perhaps, good overcomes evil.
That's a good take away, because in the end, not the end of the movie or the end of Noah's life, but at the end of everything, Good does overcome evil.
And that's what I think about it.
Being familiar with the biblical account of the Noah saga and also being suspicious of anything out of Hollywood, I arrived at the cinema with as much of an open mind as I could muster.
The story of Noah, in its original, comes from the Bible. It's pretty straightforward, God (the Creator) with human emotions rues the day He created humans and decides to do away with the whole bunch because of the depth of their depravity. That depravity was well-represented in the film. I liked that the film makers showed the worst of humankind. It's what I'd thought all along (In modern day, only Wolf of Wall Street comes close to the evil that had pervaded the earth).
A subtitle of the film might be "Transformers Moonlight for God." I kind of liked the transformers. Here's why. Reading the biblical account it does take a stretch of imagination that Noah could build the ark by himself with only three young men to help...and maybe a handy woman or two. It made more sense to me to have these strong, guardian creatures around to help and protect Noah than it might have to have flurries of angels with fluttery wings and gossamer garments helping him. So that did not bother me. Poetic license.
It has long been known that God chose Noah because of all the people on earth Noah was the best. Not a sterling recommendation, and the movie shows the evil that lurked in Noah and everyone of his family. And in the film Noah delineates the weaknesses of each family member including himself. I think it's probably not a good idea to think well of myself by comparing myself to those around me. There is a higher standard. I appreciated the script writers bringing this out.
About three-quarters of the way through the film, I got antsy. I was ready for it to be over. It started to drag. I was unconcerned about how it would end. I wanted lunch. The script went so far off the main story, down rabbit trails and cow paths, that I lost interest.
The twins being born on the Ark, Jubal-Cain stowing away, an animal being slaughtered (probably the unicorn) - all that was extra-biblical. And tears, oh my goodness, those two Ark women could cry! And sob! Anyone who knows the events of scripture will begin to see the movie at this point as pure entertainment. Hollywood at its depraved best with one huge redemptive scene that gives the impression that, just perhaps, good overcomes evil.
That's a good take away, because in the end, not the end of the movie or the end of Noah's life, but at the end of everything, Good does overcome evil.
And that's what I think about it.
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